Byron Parker was an interception machine during his days with the Toronto Argonauts. He had just one with the Lions last year, and was released Friday, along with Arland Bruce.

Do the math. Adding salary for Travis Lulay means the Lions had to drop salary somewhere else, and Byron Parker and Arland Bruce found out the hard way.

The two import starters Friday were released by the Lions a day after Lulay’s contract extension was announced. Neither move could be considered a surprise.

Parker, 31, nearly didn’t make it out of training camp, even though he was a heralded off-season free agent signing when the club signed Rich Stubler to become defensive coordinator.

Bruce, 35, made a major contribution to the 2011 Grey Cup run but wasn’t nearly as effective last season, with 603 receiving yards. Another telling stat: B.C. was unbeaten when he didn’t play last season, struggling to get back in the lineup after suffering a concussion in late September.

Imports Josh Bell and Courtney Taylor could stand to benefit the most from the roster moves, and perhaps to a lesser extent, Geroy Simon, though there is still no guarantee yet from the club he too will return.

The moves came on a day when CKWX reported the Montreal Alouettes have asked the Lions to speak with offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine about their head coaching vacancy.

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